Alton Stromberg

The Dalles

July 4, 1924 — March 27, 2016

Alton Lovell Stromberg died Sunday, March 27, 2016, at the age of 91 in The Dalles, Oregon, where he was a resident of the Oregon Veterans Home. Alton was born July 4, 1924, in Jamestown, North Dakota, to Albin Stromberg and Gertrude Klaudt.

He served in the U.S. Naval Battalion (Seabees) during World War II in New Guinea and the Philippines.

He married June Mary Joyce on Oct. 8, 1943.

He is survived by his three daughters: Kathleen Murphy of Simi Valley, California; Diane and Tom Gravelle of Portland, Oregon; and Sally and Daryl Horn of Husum, Washington. He was preceded in death by his wife in 2014, and his son, Michael, who died in 2000. Five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren survive.

Alton worked as an electrician for Alcoa Aluminum and for the Bonneville Power Administration in Vancouver, Washington, retiring from the BPA in 1985. He and his family lived in Vancouver for 46 years before moving to Seaside, Oregon, in 1991. He was an active member of the Catholic Church, and in 1975 was ordained a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Seattle. He served in churches in southwest Washington and later at Our Lady of Victory in Seaside, Oregon.

He and his wife, June, did volunteer work both in Vancouver and Seaside. They received the Governor’s Award for Volunteerism for their work with Parents Anonymous in Vancouver, Washington. In Seaside, they served as ombudsman for long-term care for seven years. He and his wife served six years on the Archbishops Permanent Deaconite Board in Portland, Oregon.

Alton also served as a chaplain for the American Legion and the Elks Lodge, and was an on-call chaplain at the Providence Seaside Hospital for 12 years. He also served as a chaplain at Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Oregon, for many years, and received an award for his work there.

He was elected as the exalted ruler for the Seaside Elks, and enjoyed his participation with the lodge. He volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, and often led spiritual readings at meetings.

He loved family gatherings, dancing, reading, painting and drinking coffee at the Holladay Pharmacy. He was loved and respected by people he encountered throughout his life.

Hughes-Ransom Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.hughes-ransom.com